# 2023–24 Manchester United W.F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was Manchester United Women's sixth season since they were founded and their fifth in the Women's Super League, the professional top-flight women's league in England. The club also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and, for the first time in their history, the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The season saw Manchester United Women win their first major trophy, beating Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 at Wembley Stadium in the 2024 Women's FA Cup final on 12 May 2024. It was the team's second major cup final, reaching the Women's FA Cup final for the second consecutive year after finishing as runners-up to Chelsea the previous season. It was the first time since Birmingham City in 2012 that the FA Cup had not been won by Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City and the first time since 2005 that none of those teams contested the final.
For the fourth consecutive season, Manchester United Women played at Old Trafford. They hosted Manchester City in the Manchester derby on 19 November 2023, setting a new team attendance record of 43,615 during a 3–1 defeat. The final match of the season, against Chelsea on 18 May 2024, was also held at Old Trafford. United lost 6–0, setting a new team record margin of defeat. The result also meant United finished 5th in the WSL, the team's worst finish in the top-flight, having also set new team records for most league defeats and most league goals conceded.
On 24 December 2023, it was announced that Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos had purchased a 25% stake of Manchester United. While the Glazers remained majority shareholders, Ineos took control of football operations including "all aspects of women's football operations" and began a string of structural and personnel changes. On 20 January 2024, Omar Berrada was announced as CEO starting July 2024, moving from the City Football Group. He replaced interim CEO, Patrick Stewart, who had been in the role since November 2023 following the departure of Richard Arnold. A further change at boardroom level was announced on 22 February 2024 with Polly Bancroft intending to stand down as head of women's football at the end of the season to take the position of Chief Executive at Grimsby Town Matt Johnson moved to the role on an interim basis following Bancroft's departure.

## Pre-season and friendlies

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 28 August 2023 | Leicester City | H | 2–2 | Fuso 10', Thomas 45' | 0 |
| 2 September 2023 | Everton | H | 1–0 | Galton 37' | 0 |
| 6 September 2023 | Bayern Munich | N | 2–3 | Galton 15', Geyse 22' | 0 |
| 13 September 2023 | Liverpool | H | 3–1 | Toone (2) 10', 14', Geyse 68' | 0 |
| 17 September 2023 | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 1–0 | García 26' | 0 |
| 5 January 2024 | PSV | N | 2–1 | Riviere 34', Parris 90+4' | |

## Women's Super League
### Matches

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| 1 October 2023 | Aston Villa | A | 2–1 | García 79', Williams 90+2' | 12,533 | 5th |
| 6 October 2023 | Arsenal | H | 2–2 | Galton 27', Malard 81' | 8,312 | 1st |
| 15 October 2023 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | Le Tissier 67' | 4,903 | 6th |
| 22 October 2023 | Everton | A | 5–0 | Malard 14', Parris (2) 58', 90+3, Williams (2) 77', 85' | 1,990 | 4th |
| 5 November 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–2 | Toone 78', Williams 90+8' | 3,444 | 6th |
| 12 November 2023 | West Ham United | H | 5–0 | Geyse 3', Turner 42', Parris 45+1', García 88', Malard 90' | 4,396 | 3rd |
| 19 November 2023 | Manchester City | H | 1–3 | Zelem 21' (pen.) | 43,615 | 4th |
| 26 November 2023 | Bristol City | A | 2–0 | Miyazawa 50', Parris 55' | 14,138 | 4th |
| 10 December 2023 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 4–0 | Blundell 29', Toone 51', Malard 59', Ladd 84' | 2,152 | 4th |
| 17 December 2023 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | Toone 3' | 6,303 | 4th |
| 21 January 2024 | Chelsea | A | 1–3 | Ladd 43' | 20,473 | 4th |
| 28 January 2024 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | Parris (2) 7', 33' | 6,347 | 4th |
| 4 February 2024 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–0 | Parris (2) 9', 64' | 4,060 | 4th |
| 17 February 2024 | Arsenal | A | 1–3 | García 90+6' | 60,160 | 4th |
| 3 March 2024 | West Ham United | A | 1–1 | Williams 4' | 3,171 | 4th |
| 17 March 2024 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | Naalsund (2) 9', 90+5' | 4,254 | 4th |
| 23 March 2024 | Manchester City | A | 1–3 | Casparij 74' (o.g.) | 40,086 | 4th |
| 31 March 2024 | Everton | H | 4–1 | Turner 57', Toone (2) 60', 65', Galton 90' | 4,902 | 4th |
| 21 April 2024 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–2 | Malard 13', Le Tissier 90+2' | 4,697 | 4th |
| 28 April 2024 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | Toone 83' | 5,211 | 4th |
| 5 May 2024 | Liverpool | A | 0–1 | | 4,567 | 5th |
| 18 May 2024 | Chelsea | H | 0–6 | | 28,737 | 5th |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 3 | Arsenal | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 53 | 20 | +33 | 50 | Qualification for the Champions League first round |
| 4 | Liverpool | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 28 | +8 | 41 | |
| 5 | Manchester United | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 35 | |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 36 | −5 | 31 | |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 43 | −16 | 24 | |

## Women's FA Cup

As a member of the first tier, United entered the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 14 January 2024 | Round 4 | Newcastle United | H | 5–0 | Toone 28', Parris (2) 37', 55', Williams 71', Malard 90+1' | 4,731 |
| 11 February 2024 | Round 5 | Southampton | A | 3–1 | Toone 8', Williams (2) 74', 82' | 4,554 |
| 9 March 2024 | Quarter-final | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 4–0 | Turner 8', Parris 17', García 45+1', Naalsund 59' | 3,701 |
| 14 April 2024 | Semi-final | Chelsea | H | 2–1 | García 1', Williams 23' | 6,876 |
| 12 May 2024 | Final | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 4–0 | Toone 45+3', Williams 54', García (2) 57', 74' | 76,082 |

## FA Women's League Cup
### Group stage

Manchester United entered the League Cup at the group stage having been eliminated from the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Champions League in the second qualifying round. They were placed in Group B, the only remaining Northern group with four teams, alongside fellow WSL teams Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester City. Finishing second in the group, Manchester United were originally in a position to qualify as one of two best second-placed teams following the conclusion of the group stage. However, an independent tribunal deducted three points Aston Villa on 29 January for fielding an ineligible player, awarding Sunderland with a victory and promoting them to group winners in Group A. Aston Villa progressed as a best-placed runner-up at the expense of Manchester United on goal difference.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 9 November 2023 | Everton | H | 7–0 | Parris (3) 28', 69', 78', Williams 30', Ladd 57', Geyse 84', Galton 89' | 1,804 | 2nd |
| 22 November 2023 | Liverpool | A | 1–0 | Parris 41' | 1,958 | 2nd |
| 14 December 2023 | Leicester City | H | 3–1 | García 2', Naalsund 20', Zelem 65' (pen.) | 2,068 | 1st |
| 24 January 2024 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | Parris 90+5' | 4,818 | 2nd |
Group B
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Manchester City (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | Manchester United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking |
| 3 | Leicester City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 8 | |
| 4 | Liverpool | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Everton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 0 | |
Ranking of second-placed teams
| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| 1 | D | Tottenham Hotspur (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 10 | 2.50 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | A | Aston Villa (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | +16 | 9 | 2.25 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 3 | B | Manchester United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 | 2.25 | |
| 4 | C | Crystal Palace | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 | 1.33 | |
| 5 | E | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | 1.00 | |

## UEFA Women's Champions League
### Qualifying round

Having finished second in the 2022–23 Women's Super League, Manchester United made their UEFA Women's Champions League debut in the second qualifying round. The draw took place on 15 September 2023, with United drawing Paris Saint-Germain.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 10 October 2023 | Second qualifying round First leg | Paris Saint-Germain | H | 1–1 | Malard 70' | 4,827 |
| 18 October 2023 | Second qualifying round Second leg | Paris Saint-Germain | A | 1–3 | Naalsund 47' | 10,358 |

## Squad statistics

    Numbers in brackets denote appearances as substitute.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 3 | DF | Gabby George | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Maya Le Tissier | 22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Aoife Mannion | 2(2) | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Hannah Blundell | 21(1) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32(1) | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Ella Toone | 20(2) | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2(2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29(4) | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Irene Guerrero | 0(3) | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(6) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Melvine Malard | 11(8) | 5 | 2(3) | 1 | 0(3) | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 14(15) | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Katie Zelem (c) | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31(1) | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Leah Galton | 13(5) | 2 | 3(1) | 0 | 0(3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18(9) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Hayley Ladd | 7(4) | 2 | 1(2) | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10(7) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Jayde Riviere | 12(3) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19(3) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Gemma Evans | 4(8) | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9(10) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Lisa Naalsund | 11(6) | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3(1) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 20(7) | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Lucía García | 13(9) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 22(10) | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Hinata Miyazawa | 6(6) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 8(9) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Millie Turner | 22 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Nikita Parris | 16(5) | 8 | 3(2) | 3 | 3(1) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 22(8) | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | Geyse | 13(6) | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 1(2) | 1 | 1(1) | 0 | 16(10) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Evie Rabjohn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Grace Clinton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | GK | Mary Earps | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | Rachel Williams | 2(19) | 5 | 2(3) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 8(23) | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | Emma Watson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | FW | Alyssa Aherne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 49 | FW | Olivia Francis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 55 | DF | Lucy Newell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 58 | MF | Phoebe Chadwick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 91 | GK | Phallon Tullis-Joyce | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | — | 1 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 1 | — | — |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From |
| 1 July 2023 | DF | Evie Rabjohn | Aston Villa |
| 1 July 2023 | FW | Olivia Francis | Pontypridd United |
| 6 July 2023 | DF | Gemma Evans | Reading |
| 17 July 2023 | DF | Lucy Newell | West Bromwich Albion |
| 18 August 2023 | FW | Geyse | Barcelona |
| 25 August 2023 | MF | Emma Watson | Rangers |
| 6 September 2023 | MF | Hinata Miyazawa | MyNavi Sendai |
| 14 September 2023 | MF | Irene Guerrero | Atlético Madrid |
| 14 September 2023 | DF | Gabby George | Everton |
| 14 September 2023 | GK | Phallon Tullis-Joyce | OL Reign |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To |
| 27 June 2023 | MF | Chloe Williams | Blackburn Rovers |
| 30 June 2023 | DF | Ona Batlle | Barcelona |
| 30 June 2023 | DF | Tara Bourne | Sheffield United |
| 30 June 2023 | MF | Jade Moore | Birmingham City |
| 30 June 2023 | FW | Alessia Russo | Arsenal |
| 30 June 2023 | DF | Aïssatou Tounkara | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 3 July 2023 | DF | Niamh Murphy | Blackburn Rovers |
| 4 July 2023 | GK | Emily Ramsey | Everton |
| 27 July 2023 | MF | Ella Kinzett | Sheffield United |
| 6 August 2023 | DF | Sasha McTiffin | Hofstra Pride |
| 10 August 2023 | DF | Emma Taylor | Blackburn Rovers |
| 11 August 2023 | FW | Kirsty Hanson | Aston Villa |
| 26 August 2023 | MF | Rebecca May | Derby County |
| 30 August 2023 | DF | Maria Thorisdottir | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 6 September 2023 | MF | Carrie Jones | Bristol City |
| 11 September 2023 | FW | Adriana Leon | Aston Villa |
| 12 September 2023 | MF | Vilde Bøe Risa | Atlético Madrid |
| 14 September 2023 | FW | Ivana Fuso | Birmingham City |
| 14 September 2023 | FW | Martha Thomas | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 14 September 2023 | GK | Sophie Baggaley | Brighton & Hove Albion |

### Loans in

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | From | Ref. |
| 15 September 2023 | 30 June 2024 | FW | Melvine Malard | Lyon | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | To |
| 17 July 2023 | 30 June 2024 | DF | Lucy Newell | West Bromwich Albion |
| 28 July 2023 | 30 June 2024 | FW | Eleanor Ashton | Derby County |
| 8 August 2023 | 30 June 2024 | MF | Bella Reidford | Burnley |
| 14 August 2023 | 30 June 2024 | MF | Grace Clinton | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 24 August 2023 | 30 June 2024 | FW | Keira Barry | Crystal Palace |
| 14 September 2023 | 21 October 2023 | DF | Jess Simpson | Bristol City |
| 15 September 2023 | 5 January 2024 | FW | Alyssa Aherne | Everton |
| 22 October 2023 | 30 June 2024 | MF | Layla Proctor | Huddersfield Town |
| 5 November 2023 | 30 June 2024 | MF | Holly Deering | Liverpool Feds |
| 17 December 2023 | 30 June 2024 | MF | Mayzee Davies | AFC Fylde |
| 19 January 2024 | 30 June 2024 | GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | Watford |
| 24 March 2024 | 30 June 2024 | FW | Fay Al-Qaimi | Stoke City |
| 21 April 2024 | 30 June 2024 | GK | Jennifer Handy | Liverpool Feds |